Colin F Williams, PhD.
Colin is the Mineral Resources Program Coordinator. Colin was previously the Director of the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. Before that he led the Geothermal Resource Studies Project, which assessed the geothermal resources of the US and conducted research on geothermal systems.
Colin's primary research interest is in understanding the flow of heat and fluids through the Earth's crust and using those measurements to understand hydrothermal processes, mineral deposits, earthquakes, and groundwater flow. He joined the USGS after earning a PhD and MPhil in Geological Sciences from Columbia University, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and a BS in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College.
Professional Experience
2022-Present, Program Coordinator for the Mineral Resources Program
2012-2022, Center Director, USGS Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Menlo Park, CA
2004-2012, Supervisory Research Geophysicist and Geothermal Project Chief, USGS, EQ Science Center, Menlo Park, CA
1989-2004, Research Geophysicist, Heat Flow Studies, USGS Branch of Tectonophysics, Menlo Park, CA
Education and Certifications
M.Phil, PhD., Geophysics, Columbia University, 1989
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of California-Berkeley, 1984
B.S., Engineering, Harvey Mudd College, 1983
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union
Geological Society of America
Geothermal Resources Council
International Geothermal Association
Society of Economic Geologists
Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration
Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada
NASA - Non-USGS
Department of Energy - Non-USGS
Science and Products
Evaluating geothermal and hydrogeologic controls on regional groundwater temperature distribution
Geologic setting of the proposed Fallon FORGE Site, Nevada: Suitability for EGS research and development
Understanding heat and groundwater flow through continental flood basalt provinces: insights gained from alternative models of permeability/depth relationships for the Columbia Plateau, USA
An approach to modeling coupled thermal-hydraulic-chemical processes in geothermal systems
Temperature data from wells in Long Valley Caldera, California
Challenges in the assessment and classification of enhanced/engineered geothermal system resources
The thermal regime in the resurgent dome of Long Valley Caldera, California: Inferences from precision temperature logs in deep wells
Quantifying the undiscovered geothermal resources of the United States
A Review of Methods Applied by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Assessment of Identified Geothermal Resources
Assessment of Moderate- and High-Temperature Geothermal Resources of the United States
Putting it all together: Exhumation histories from a formal combination of heat flow and a suite of thermochronometers
The USGS national geothermal resource assessment: An update
Science and Products
Evaluating geothermal and hydrogeologic controls on regional groundwater temperature distribution
Geologic setting of the proposed Fallon FORGE Site, Nevada: Suitability for EGS research and development
Understanding heat and groundwater flow through continental flood basalt provinces: insights gained from alternative models of permeability/depth relationships for the Columbia Plateau, USA
An approach to modeling coupled thermal-hydraulic-chemical processes in geothermal systems
Temperature data from wells in Long Valley Caldera, California
Challenges in the assessment and classification of enhanced/engineered geothermal system resources
The thermal regime in the resurgent dome of Long Valley Caldera, California: Inferences from precision temperature logs in deep wells
Quantifying the undiscovered geothermal resources of the United States
A Review of Methods Applied by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Assessment of Identified Geothermal Resources
Assessment of Moderate- and High-Temperature Geothermal Resources of the United States
Putting it all together: Exhumation histories from a formal combination of heat flow and a suite of thermochronometers
The USGS national geothermal resource assessment: An update
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government